Alcohol-sniffing dogs? Police delete tweet

HUNTINGTON BEACH – The Huntington Beach Police Department will use a variety of strategies to curb illegal drinking on the beach during this year's U.S. Open of Surfing ... except alcohol-sniffing dogs.

In spite of an update on the department's official Twitter feed, Huntington Beach police will not be using alcohol-sniffing dogs at the weeklong event. The Huntington Beach Police Department's public information officer sent out the tweet Thursday as part of a string of updates on alcohol enforcement at the U.S. Open, which begins Saturday.

The Twitter account HBPD_PIO posted a tweet at 11:20 a.m. that included a picture of three golden retrievers and read, "@usopenofsurf Our elite team of alcohol sniffing dogs – aren't they cute? #VansUSOpen."

Lt. Mitch O'Brien said the tweet aimed to keep minors from attempting to drink.

"They don't exist," he wrote in an email. "Just trying to drive home the no-drinking stance this year at the Open – sorry for any confusion."

Officials do plan to enforce stricter alcohol enforcement during the event by doubling citation fines and deploying undercover officers at the weeklong surfing competition.

Last year Huntington Beach police citied 1,044 people, most of which were alcohol-related violations, O'Brien said.

Authorities deleted the tweet shortly after 12:30 p.m.

"(Illegal drinking) is going to ruin the event, and we don't want that," O'Brien said. "It's a top priority to curb any drinking on the beach."